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W. W. LE GRANDE. ELEGTRO MECHANICAL SIGNAL APPARATUS. N0. 377.626.

Patented Feb. 7, 1888.

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- W. W. LE GRANDE.

ELBGTRO ME HANIGAL SIGNAL APPARATUS. 7 No. 377,626. Patented Feb. 7,1888.

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NITED STATES I PATENT OFFI E.

WILLIAM W. LE GRANDE, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE LE GRANDE SIGNAL AND ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF SAME-PLACE.

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SIGNAL APPAR'AT U S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 377,626, dated February 7, 1888. Application filed July 21, rear. Serial No. 244,876. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. LE GRANDE,

a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding'at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson, in the State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Electro-Mechanical Signal Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in apparatus for operating railway and similar signals; and the objects are, first, to provide an electromechanical interlocking and signal apparatus by which the semaphores or signals on any number of ways or tracks crossing each other may be protected by electrically-controlled appliances having association with mechanism for moving the levers and pull-bars of the signaling device, and, second, to simplify and improve the mechanism of that certain apparatus, fully shown and described in Letters Patent No. 352,903, dated the 16th of November, 1886, granted to me for improve ments in electromechanical signal apparatus.

With these objects in view my improvements consist, first, of the changes in the mechanism whereby a horizontal arrangement and adjustment of a reciprocating pull-bar carriage carrying the first series of pull-bars constructed to be thrown into engagement with the second series of semaphore pull-bars by mechanism electrically controlled and operated in connection with the single hand or switch lever; second, in the interposition of a rock-shaft provided with a number of adjustable locki ng sears or blades to lock the stationary armatures of the magnets in normal position when one of them is brought into requisition as a lift or rider for any one of the pull-bars; third, in thenovel construction of the pull-bar carriage carrying the first series of pull-bars and formed with downward-projecting tongue arranged to slide in a slot in the bed or rest to serve as a lock,in combination with the electrically-controlled interlocking mechanism;-fourth, in

forming the first series of pull bars or-latehes with the lifting-inclines on the under side and inclined end of the'hooks; fifth, inv the circuit closing angular strips or springs mounted on the armatures of the track-circuit magnets and insulated therefrom to make and break the 10- cal circuit,of which they form a part, in comand having connection through conductors to local batteries, and, sixth, in the introduction I of adjustable gravity-Weights on all the armatures to carry them from vertical position into mechanical connection when released from their pole-pieces.

My invention, therefore, consists in the novel I attain the objects and purposes of my present invention by means of the mechanism and appliances illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a side view of my improvements arranged within the casing,the lever-stand and guide-pulleys being also shown arr'angedin- Fig. 2 is a top plan view of relation thereto. the apparatus, the top of the casing being removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the'casing and an end view, looking from the lever end of the apparatus, showing the pivoted pull-bars, the frame in which they are mounted, and the interlocking magnet and armature-lever. Fig. 4. is a transverse section of the casing and a rear view, in elevation, of the apparatus, showing the track-circuit magnets, the rock-shaft,'the springs and connections to complete the local circuit, and the armatures to raise the pull-bars. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the magnets of the apparatus and the circuits connected thereto, also showingv a general outline of the track-connections and the batteries; and Fig. 6 is a diagram of the apparatus in connection with the track.

Where the same parts or elements are shown" in different figures of the drawings they are designated by the same-notations.

Reference being had to the drawings, A designates the case or box within which is contained the apparatus. This case is set on a hard-wood oriron base-piece, 1,-which projects beyond the ends of the case to provide foundations for the "lever-stand and guide sheaves or pulleys. The sides 2 of the case form a box of suitable dimensions to contain all the mechanism andrequisite electrical apbination with metallic conducting strips or springs mounted on a non-conducting support pliances directly associated with the mechanism, and is provided with a substantial cover ing, 3. In the front end of the case is a hole, 4, within which slides the pitman or lever-bar 5, which has one end pivotally joined to the pull-bar frame, substantially as seen at 6. In the opposite end of the case is an opening, 7, through which project the ends of the upper series of pull-bars, as shown, or openings may be made for each pullbar. On the projecting part of the foundation 1, at the front end, are mounted the standards 8, upon two of which is secured the quadrant 9, formed with seats to take and lock the levers at both limits of the arc, and to the other standard is pivoted the lever 11, to about the middle of which is pivotally connected the leverbar 5, as seen at 12.

Vithin the case is arranged and secured a slide rest or bed, 13, mounted at the proper height to carry the pull-bars into connection with the second series of pull-bars connected to the semaphores, as hereinafter more fully' stated, and arranged and secured against the sides of the case above the slide-rest are the guide bars or flanges 14. In the longitudinal middle of the slide-rest 13 is formed a slot, 15, to take the guide rib or lug of the pull-bar carriage.

16 designates the pull-bar carriage, mounted to slide on the slide-rest13,with its sidev edges arranged between the slide-rest and the guidefianges 14, substantially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This pull-bar carriage 16 is formed with the bearing-standards 17 at the front, in which is journaled a shaft, 18, and at the other end is formed with upward-projecting guide-standards 19. On the bottom of the pull-bar carriage is formed a rib or flange, a, which fits in the slot of the slide-rest 13, and is formed with a transverse recess, 11, in

- which the ends of the interlocking armature project and lock the slide with the pull-bars at either limit of the movements. Pivotally mounted on the shaft 18 are the first series of pull-bars, 20, arranged at a proper distance apart, and to register in this respect with the second series of pull bars connected to the semaphore stands. These pull-bars, or first series of latches, 20, are each formed with a lug, 21, having inclined faces, which are intended to slide over the engaging end of the armatures, hereinafter described, and lift the hook into engagement with the hook of apullbar of the second series. The free end of this first'series of pull-bars is formed with a hook, 22, having an inclined end, as at 23. The pull-' bars 20 have theirjournaled ends arranged at an elevation above their free ends, as shown best in Fig. 1 of the drawings, so that the free ends, when at rest in the seats of the pull-bar carriage, rest below the hooks of the second series of pull-bars. This arrangement permits those pull-bars of the first series not brought or lifted in engagement with the hooks of the second series to be reciprocated with the carriage and without hinderance from the pullbars of the second series not to be moved.

In the case at the upper rear end is secured the slide-rest 24 of the second series of pullbars. The floors of the respective seats in this sliderest 24 are on a horizontal plane. B designates the second series of pull-bars, which consist of substantial metal bars having a straight body, the outer end formed to take the end of the semaphore-connection, as seen at 25, and the other end formed with a hook, 26, formed with an inclined face, 27, and a hook-seat, 28, as shown. On the lower side of each pull-bar of this series is formed a stopping-lug, 29, which,whcn the pull-bars are at a normal position, prevents them from being drawn out by the action of the semaphore; and when one of them has been drawn back by engagement with and action of the registering pull-bar of the first series and released it is re turned to the limit of the movement allowed by the lug, and the carriage of the first series continued in the reverse movement until the hooks are disconnected and the free end of the lower or first hook drops into position for sub- .sequent use.

On the rear projecting end of the base of the case are set standards 30, suitably braced, as seen at 31, and on a fixed shaft, 32, are independently journaled a number of guidesheaves, 33, over which the semaphore-strands are led from their connection with the respective pull-bars of the second series.

The foregoing description completes the description of the mechanical elements brought into requisition for the purpose of operating the semaphores; but these mechanisms are so arranged and associated with certain electrically controlled and operated appliances as to be inoperative except when these electrical appliances and mechanisms arefirst made active and movable. In this connection it may be here stated that as an adjunct to and associated with my improved apparatus I have conceived the following initial devices for communicating the signal and registering at any distance the time or signal that each trackage in the-domain of the apparatus is entered and the number or section of track so invaded and the time occupied. To effect these desirable results in connection with the other parts of my improved apparatus, I form each pull-bar with one or more projections, 34, onthe upper face, and within the case of the apparatus place contact springs or bars 35, to which are connected the circuit-wires 36, leading to any desired signal. When the pull-bar is drawn back and the lugs engage with the contactsprings, the circuit is made or broken and the signal apparatus (not shown) set in motion and the results stated indicated. Arranged in the case, on the floor thereof, may be a basepiece, 37, on the front end of which is erected avertical non-conducting partition, 38, to the rear face of which are secured the electromagnets 39. The polepieces of these maglbr" I. so

nets are extended, as shown, in order that space may be saved by having the armatures contact them at right angles to the plane of the cores. These magnets are arranged in pairs or duplicates, one above the other, as shown, and have theircircuits completed by attaching the circuit-wires to binding-posts 41, set in the opposite face of the non-conducting partition. These magnets 39 are wound to suit the resistance of the current in which they are intended to be placed. As the distance from the apparatus to the limits of the domain to be protected varies, the construction of the magnets in the respect stated should also vary.

Mounted on the basepiece 37 are the armature stands or bearings 42, formed with bearings 43, in which thejournals 44 ot' the armatures 45 are mounted. These armatures 45 contact with the pole-pieces of the magnets at right angles to the planes of the poles, as heretofore stated, and are formed with projecting lugs 46, which are intended to serve as means for locking the armatures of the unbroken circuits in vertical position when one of them is being used as a lift for a pull-bar. This locking is accomplished by engagement with the scars on the rock-shaft, as will be hereinafter more fully stated. When the circuits are all closed and active, these several armatures are held in vertical position and away from the'line of movement of their respective pull-bars; but when any one circuit is broken the armature drops away from its magnet and assumes a slantipg position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4"; with its upper end directly behind the incline and under the pull-bar, in readiness to serve as a rider or lift to carry that pull-bar into latched connection with the upper pullbar. The drop movement of the armatures is limited and adjusted by forming their lower ends with a projecting arm, 47, and projecting from the stands a similar arm, 48, provided with an adj usting-sorew,49. It will be readily perceived that by adjustment of this screw the movement of the armature will be correspondingly controlled and limited.

Mounted on standards 50, supported and secured by any suitable means, is a non-conducting piece of material, 51, on which are secured conducting strips or springs 52, which, when the armatures are vertical and in contact with their magnets, contact with the circuit-closers 53, mounted on the armatures, but insulated therefrom. The purpose of this arrangement is to make and break the local circuit,ol' which the strips and contact pieces form a part. When the armatu res are held against the polepieces of the magnets 39, the metallic strips on the non-conducting support complete the local circuit from thecircuit'connect-ions to and through the interlocking magnet and magnet C to the local battery, and from thence to the other terminal, as will be fully stated when the operation of the apparatus is consecutively described.

Mounted to journal in the standards 50 is a rock-shaft, 54, provided at one end with an ad- 'locking device.

or blades, 57, made adjustable on the shaft These sears or blades 57, when the shaft is turned, setbehind the projections or lugs 46 on the armatures 45, and thus lgck all in ver-- tical position, except the one previously released from its magnet and dropped beyond the engagement of the sear. a

- G designates an electro-magnet interposed in the local circuit above described for the purpose of controlling and operating the rockshaft 54, and alsov for completing the circuit to the bell-signal when its armature is carried into position for that purpose through the shunt-loop. The armature 58 of this magnet is pivotall y supported, substantially as shown, in a vertical position to contact the poles. of the magnet, and has its upper end connected to the arm of the rock-shaft. Ontheadjacent standard, 50, is a binding-post, c, to which is attached one of the wires forming the circuit to the bell-signal, and the point of the screwv of this post forms a contact with the armature when carried against it and completes the bell,- signal circuit, which constitutes a shunt-loop. D designates the electromechanical interver in the direction shown by the dotted lines, I

when released from contact with the magnets.- On the lower arm of the interlocking lever, is an armature, 67, to contact with the pole-piece of the magnet; and to limit the movement of the lever when the armature is released astoprod, 68, is provided. This consists of a setscrew let through the standard on the founda- This consists of electro-magtion-piece of the magnets, and may beadjusted to stop the fall of the interlocking lever at any desired point. The purpose of'this interlocking mechanism is to lock the pull-bar carriage at the limits of the movement, and is accomplished by the cross-head of the interlocking lever being interposed in the path of the tongue or flange on the interlocking carriage.

Ihe magnets in the track-circuits, the localcircuit magnets, and the interlocking magnets are all so associated as to bring their respective adjunctive mechanism into sequential operation, and the different results attained through the agency of the different circuits now about to be specified.

E designates a section of railway which at.

nected from the adjacent line of track. At a suitable location on this section E is a linebattery, 69, from the poles of which are extended the line-circuits 7O 71 to the relay 72, from the relay-points through the local battcry 73 to the binding-posts 41 on the non-conducting partition 38 to the electro-magnets 39, and thus controlling the vertical armatures 45. It will be seenthat when an obstruction, as a train, invades the domain of the insulated track-section, the main or line batteryEis cut out or short-circuited, thus opening the relaypoints at their local circuits, and the magnets 39 of that special circuit deprived of electric energy-the condition which destroys electric cohesion between the vertical armatures and the pole-pieces of the magnet-the armature falls by gravity with its end behind the incline of the pull-bar, ready to serve the function of a lift or rider to the pull-bar. I have demonstrated these primary circuits 39 by a single circuit designated by that nu mber, which is deemed suflicient for the purposes of a full illustration of the other similar circuits to be connected to the respective magnets associated with the other pull-bars.

It being understood that a battery is used in each track-line for each section of track to -be protected and the localcircuit lines carried from thence through local batteries to the respective local magnets in the casing, and the following statement of the operation can be applied to any one of the pull-bars: When the train enters the section of track in circuit with any one of the relays 72,they are cut out of the line-battery circuit and the armature falls away from the relay-magnet, thus breaking the local circuit through its corresponding 10- cal magnet 39,0ausing the vertical armature to fall away from the pole-piece and rest in the position indicated by the dot-ted lines, with its upper end immediately under the end of the adjacent latch or pull-bar and just behind the incline on the under side of same. This dropping away of thearmature breaks the local circuit leading from the local battery 74, through the circuit-wires and 76, to the interlocking magnets 59, the rock-shaft magnet O, by conductors 77 and 78, through the arms or springs 52 and contact-pieces 53, which breaking is accomplished through these pieces 53 being carried away from the arms 52 when the armatures move under the pull-bar. This disconnection releases the armature 58 from the magnet G,and the rock-shaft is turned, by means of the weight 55, to bring the scars behind the projections or lugs 46 on the armatures 45, and thus locks allthese armatures in their normal magnetic position except the one released by the break in the track-circuit. This same movement brings the armature 58 of the magnet G in contact with the insulated ver mechanism is unlocked and ready for operation.

When the'local circuit above described is broken by the movement of an armature of the relay-magnet in a track-circuit, the interlocking magnet, being in the local circuit, is demagnetized, and itsarmature, which up to the time of the breaking of the local circuit is in the path of the tongue or flange on the pullbar carriage acting to lock that carriage in its normal position,is now released and moves to the position indicated by dotted lines, Fig. 3, which brings the way or recess in its crosshead to register with the said tongue,and the mechanism is in condition to be operated by the hand-lever at the stand. The forward movement of the lever carries with it the pullbar carriage. The pull-bar associated with the cut-out magnet is raised to latch with its proper pull-bar of the upper series, which being in connection with the semaphore the proper signal is displayed. As soon as the lever is pulled over to the outer limit,the cross-head of the interlocking lever is brought into the path of the tongue on the carriage by the force of the gravity-weight and the carriage is locked at its outer limit against return until the train passes 0d the section protected, when the circuit is re-established through the track-lines and relay-magnets. This energizes the magnets of that circuit and closes the local circuits through the magnet of series 39, associated therewith. The armature of this magnet is drawn to contact with its )olepiece and the circuit completed at the same time, and by the same movement of the arma ture the contact-pieces thereon connect with the springs or pieces on the non-conducting bridge, closing the local circuit, as hereinbefore stated, bringing the armature of the interlocking magnet and the rock-shaft magnet into contact with their poles, unlocking the carriage by throwing the interlocking lever away from behind the tongue and to register therewith, and at the same time breaks the shunt-contact at the rock-shaft-magnet armature, causing the hell or signal to cease ringing, thereby notifying the attendant that the section is clear and that the mechanism is in position to be thrown back to its normal position.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with a horizontallyarranged slide-rest, of a pull-bar carriage mounted to reciprocate on said rest, a handlever to reciprocate the carriage, a latch or pull-bar pivotally mounted on said carriage and resting with its free end lower than its pivotal support, and formed with an incline in the under side of its free end, and having an upward-arranged hook formed with an inclined end, a pull-bar arranged to slide'on bearings and having its outer end connected to the semaphorestrand, and the free end formed with a hook having an inclined end to engage with the counterpart hook on the pivoted pull-bar, a normally-closed track-circuit,

and to drop by gravity underthe pivoted pullbar when released from contact with the electr o-magnet, substantially as described, and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with a hand lever and a horizontal pull-bar carriage mounted on ways or supports and formed with a tongue or lugon its bottom, of a pull-bar pivotally mounted on said pull-bar carriage, with its free end to rest at an incline below its pivotal support, and formed with an incline on its under side, and a hook having an inclined end, a pull-bar horizontally supported and having its outer end connected to a signal device and its free end hooked to set within the hook of the pivoted pull-bar, a normally-closed track-circuit having a relay in said track-circuit controlling an electro-magnet in a local circuit having an extended core or pole-piece, apivoted armature to contact said pole-piece at right angles to the face and arranged to fall under the pivoted pull-barwhen released from contact with the core of the magnet, a normally-closed independent circuit having current through bridges mounted to contact insulated metallic connections on the said armature, an electromagnet in said independent circuit, and a vertically-arranged and pivoted armature to set in the path of the lug on the bottom of the pull-bar carriage and lock said carriage at the limits of its movements, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with one or more insulated sections of railway-tracks and track-circuits laid thereto, an electro-relay magnet in each of said circuits, and a railway signaling apparatus, of an independent electrical local circuit having current through suitable connections on a non conducting support, and contact-pieces mounted on insulated supports on the armature of the magnets of the local circuits, and therebyclosed and opened, and

an electro-magnet in said independent circuit having an armature arranged to lock the apparatus in position at the limits of the movement of the apparatus, substantially as described.

4. The combination,with the casing, the horizontally-arranged pull-bar carriage mounted to slide therein, and a hand-lever to reciprocate the pull-bar carriage, of a series of pull-' bars pivotally mounted on a shaft in said carriage and arranged to rest with their free ends at an incline below their pivotal support, and formed with inclines on their under edges at their free ends and with hooks having inclined ends, a series of pull-bars arranged in a hori zontal plane and to slide independent of each other, and having their outer ends connected to the semaphore-strands, and their freeends formed with hooks to set within'the hooks of the pivoted pull-bars, a series of normallyclosed track-circuits, a relay in said track-circuits controlling an electro magnet in each of said circuits having their pole-pieces extended and having armatures pivoted to move in a vertical plane and contact said pole-pieces at right angles to the face thereof and to fall under the pivoted pull-bars when'released from contact with the cores of the magnets, an independent local'electrical circuit having-normally a current through metallic connections mounted on insulated supports and insulated contact-pieces on the armatures of the magnets of the local circuits, and an electro-magnet in said independent circuit having a vertically-arranged armature adapted to lock and unlock the pull-bar carriage, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the track-circuit,

the electro-mechanical signal-actuating mechanism, and the independent local circuit having the interlocking mechanisnr mounted therein, of the rock-shaft magnet having an armature connected to the rock-shaft, and the rock-shaft having sears to lock the armature of the track-magnet in position, substantially as described.

6. The combination,with the pull-bars of an electro -mechanical signal mechanism, of' an eleotro-magnet formed with a projecting core or pole-piece, and having a pivoted armature vertically arranged to set againstfthe projecting pole-piece of the magnet at right angles to the face thereof, and formed witha projecting arm, 47, at its base to limit its movements, substantially as described, and for the'purpose set forth.

7.' The combination, with the interlocking magnet, its circuit, and an audilole-si gna'lde-v vice, of an electro-magnet, 0, arranged in the magnet, and formed with a'horizontally-an' ranged projecting arm having an adjustable weight, substantially as and for the purpose specified. Y

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

WILLIAM W. LE GRANDE. Attest: Y

J. O. HEMINGWAY, CHAS. B. THOMPSON.

. circuit of the interlocking magnet, having an 

